CKMI-DT

CKMI-TV channel 5 signed on the air March 17. It broadcast with an effective radiated power of 5,600 watts video and 2,800 watts audio, and was a CBC English network affiliate. The station was owned by Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltee. which also owned CFCM-TV. CFCM had been broadcasting in English and French. With the launch of CKMI-TV, CFCM-TV was now able to broadcast solely in French.

J. A. Pouliot was appointed general manager of Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltee. He had been with Famous Players Canadian Corp. Arthur P. Fitzgibbons was named director of operations for CKMI-TV while Ernest Miller continued on in that position for CFCM-TV.

Ownership of Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltee: A. C. Picard 10.0%, Gaston Pratte 0.1%, Henri Lepage 0.1%, Paul Lepage 0.1%, J. J. Fitzgibbons 0.1%, R. W. Relstad 0.1%, Angus McDunn 0.1%, E. E. Fitzgibbons 0.1%, CHRC Ltee 19.9%, CKCV Ltee 19.8% and Famous Players Canadian Corp. Ltd 49.6%.  Gaston Pratte was president of the company.

22,000 square feet had been added to the CFCM-CKMI studio/office building.

Arthur P. Fitzgibbons was appointed director of operations for CFCM-TV/CKMI-TV. He had been CKMI’s sales manager. Fitzgibbons joined Television de Quebec in 1954 as sales manager of CFCM, following almost 24 years with Famous Players. He would also continue on as sales manager for both stations. Ernest W. Miller, with the company since it opened in 1953, resigned as station and sales manager to assume a new position. Andrew N. McLellan was appointed public relations and publicity manager for Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltd., operator of CFCM-TV and CKMI-TV. He had been publicity and promotion manager for CKMI-TV.

139 microwave units across Canada went into operation on July 1, carrying TV signals 3,900 miles over the longest microwave network in the world. The CBC’s Dominion Day program “Memo to Champlain” inaugurated the system. The network linked together Canada’s 40 privately owned TV stations and 8 CBC stations, providing live TV to 80% of the Canadian population between Victoria, B.C. and Sydney, N.S. Newfoundland was expected to be on the network in 1959. The CBC, in cooperation with CFRN-TV Edmonton, CKCK-TV Regina, CKLW-TV Windsor and CHSJ-TV Saint John, used the inaugural program as an electronic travelogue to visit 15 Canadian cities. The microwave network was called the Trans-Canada Skyway. 

Ad slogan: CFCM-TV / CKMI-TV – It takes two languages to cover a bilingual market…offering advertisers combined selling power in Canada’s 5th largest market – Quebec City. 

Jacques Filteau was appointed program director for Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltd. He would be responsible for all CKMI-TV and CFCM-TV programming. He had been program director for CFCM-TV only. 

CBC/Radio-Canada opened its own station – CBVT – in September. As a result, CFCM-TV became an independent. Another 9,000 square feet was added to the studio-office complex. 

CKMI-TV had a an effective radiated power of 13,850 watts video and 6,770 watts audio. CKMI-TV/CFCM-TV had three studios (25′ x 25′, 24′ x 36′ and 75′ x 50′), five studio cameras, three video tape recording facilities, one kinescope recorder and one fully equipped mobile unit. 

Jean A. Pouliot was managing director. Jean Lionel Crevier was named director of publicity, promotions and public relations. Jacques Filteau, executive assistant to the general manager of CFCM-TV/CKMI-TV left for CJRC in Ottawa.  

Famous Players Canadian Corp. was a controlled subsidiary of Paramount International Films Inc. To get around the new foreign ownership regulations, Famous wanted to transfer its broadcasting operations to a new corporation – Teltron Communications Ltd. The CRTC denied this application on April 17 because effective ownership of Teltron would have remained essentially the same as before. Famous had interests in Television de Quebec Ltee, Central Ontario Television Ltd., British Columbia Television Broadcasting System Ltd., and numerous cable companies. 

On July 20, Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltee had its licences for  CKMI-TV and CFCM-TV renewed to March 31, 1971. This company wass not an eligible corporation because 50% of the shares were owned by Famous Players Canadian Corp. Ltd. which was a U. S. corporation. This was a license extension to give the company time to comply with foreign ownership regulations. 

On March 4, Television de Quebec (Canada) Ltee, owner of CFCM-TV and CKMI-TV, was given permission to transfer 3,000 class B common shares from Famous Players Canadian Corp. Ltd. to CHRC Ltee (1,200 shares), CKCV (Quebec) Ltee (1,200 shares), Jevlam Inc. (600 shares) and to redeem 2,250 Class B preferred shares from Famous Players Canadian in order to reduce its holdings to 20%. This would bring Famous in line with the foreign ownership regulations. 

On July 15, Radio Laval Inc. was given approval to purchase CFCM-TV and CKMI-TV from Tele-Capitale Ltee. 

On August 7, approval was granted for the transfer of indirect control of (A) Enterprises Tele-Capitale Ltee (CKLM, CFCM-TV, CKMI-TV, CFER-TV and CFER-TV-1); (B) CHRC Ltee (CHRC-AM and CHOI-FM) – through the transfer of not less than 50.5% of Class B common voting shares of Tele-Capitale Ltee (the parent company) from Claude Pratte and one or both of the other major shareholders, Jevlam Inc. (J. A. Pouliot) and Baribeau & Fils Inc. (Baribeau family) to Corporation de Gestion La Verendrye. This was conditional on Corporation de Gestion LaVerendrye doing a public offering within 21 days to acquire Class A common non-voting shares of Tele-Capitale. . J. Conrad Lavigne was among the new directors of Tele-Capitale. The company undertook to make the following improvements at CFCM-TV: spend $350,000 for new cameras, $600,000 for transmitter renovation, increase local production, including five new series this season. Local production would be increased for CKMI-TV. 

Pierre Duhaime who was vice president and general manager of CFCM-TV and CKMI-TV was now v. p. and general manager of parent company Tele-Capital Enterprises Ltd. Long-time staffers Gilles Gregoire and Paul Leclerc were also promoted. Gregoire became VP and GM of CFCM/CKMI and Leclerc was named commercial director. 

Tele-Capital Enterprises started construction on a new $4 million production centre for CFCM-TV and CKMI-TV. The 22,000 square foot building was expected to be completed by the end of the year and fully operational by June of 1983. 

Gilles Gregoire was promoted to president of Tele-Capitale while retaining the position of chief operating officer.

Tele-Capital Ltd. was sold by Corporation de Gestion La Vérendrye to CHEM-TV Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pathonic Communications Inc. CHEM-TV Inc. then amalgamated with Tele-Capital Ltd. The amalgamated company became Tele-Capital Inc. (a subsidiary of Pathonic). 

Bob Dawson moved from the vice president and general manager role at CKMI-TV to the same position at co-owned CFCM-TV. 

Groupe Vidéotron Ltée. Acquired Télé-Métropole Inc. from the Estate of J.A. DeSève, the J.A. DeSève Foundation and Ciné-Monde Inc. 

Télé-Métropole Inc. acquired control of Pathonic Network Inc., including CKMI-TV. Le Groupe Vidéotron Ltée owned 99.7% of the voting shares and 40.8% of all of the outstanding shares in Télé-Métropole at this time. 

The corporate name was now Groupe TVA Inc. 

On August 13, Télé-Métropole Inc. was given approval to acquire 75% of Le Réseau de télévision TVA Inc. from Radio Nord Inc., Télé-Inter Rives Ltée and Télévision de la Baie des Chaleurs Inc. (25% each). This purchase gave Télé-Métropole 100% of the network.

The corporate name was now TM Multi-Régions Inc.

Télé-Métropole Inc. acquired CKMI-TV (and other stations) from its subsidiary, TM Multi-Régions Inc. 

On January 23, the CRTC approved the application to amend the licence for CKMI-TV by adding to the licence the following condition of licence: In addition to the 12 minutes of advertising material permitted by subsection 11(1) of the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, the licensee may broadcast more than 12 minutes of advertising material in any clock hour in a broadcast day, in order to broadcast infomercials as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1994-139 and in accordance with the criteria contained in that public notice, as amended.

CanWest Global and Tele-Metropole came to an agreement on a joint venture which would revitalize CKMI-TV. The station would change its affiliation from CBC to Global. The $10 million plan could create over 60 jobs, and would add rebroadcast transmitters in Montreal and Sherbrooke.

On February 27, TVA CanWest Limited Partnership (TVA Regional Inc. and Global Communications Ltd.) was given approval to purchase CKMI-TV from Télé-Métropole inc. (TVA Regional Inc.). The owners planned to revitalize the CBC affiliate and have it become part of the Global network. Transmitters would be added at Montreal and Sherbrooke to extend the Global signal. The CanWest Global system would now cover over 78% of Canada’s population.

On September 5, authorization was received to change the channel and the effective radiated power for CKMI-TV Quebec City, from channel 5 with 13,850 watts, to channel 20C with 20,200 watts; and Montréal, from channel 67B with 4,980 watts, to channel 46B with 4,850 watts.

On September 14, CKMI disaffiliated from the CBC and joined the Global Television Network. At this time, CKMI moved from channel 5 to channel 20. The CBC took over channel 5 for its new Quebec City station CBVE-TV (rebroadcaster of CBMT Montreal). CKMI also added a transmitter at Montreal (Channel 46).

Global hired Benoit Aubin from TVA to run its Quebec newsroom.

CKMI-TV operated out of the facilities of Tele-Metropole, which remained as a minority shareholder of the station.

CKMI-TV-1 Montreal was authorized to increase effective radiated power from 4,850 to 33,000 watts.  

Patrick O’Hara was promoted to general manager of Global Television Quebec and Suzanne Lapalme became the new GM of Canvideo Television Sales (Montreal). O’Hara, the former operations manager, succeeded Lapalme at her old position. 

Patrick O’Hara, general sales manager of Global Quebec (CKMI-TV) became general manager of CHCH-TV in Hamilton. Maureen Rogers who had been business manager at Global Quebec became GM.

Global Quebec news director and chief anchor Leslie Roberts left for Global Toronto. 

On August 30, Global Television Network Inc. received approval to acquire the 49% interest held by the limited partner, TVA Regional Inc., in Global Television Network Quebec Limited Partnership. Global now owned 100% of CKMI-TV. 

On September 1, Global Television Network Inc., Global Communications Limited, CanWest Media Inc. and certain other CanWest companies amalgamated under the name CanWest MediaWorks Inc. 

On May 1, CanWest MediaWorks Inc. (the general partner) and GTNQ Holdings Inc. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Global Television Network Quebec Limited Partnership was given approval to acquire CKMI-TV from the current partners, Global Communications Limited and Global Television Network Inc., as part of an intra-corporate reorganization. The reorganization did not result in any change in the ultimate control of CKMI-TV, which continued to be exercised by David A. Asper, Gail S. Asper and Leonard J. Asper, children of the late Israel Asper, as approved in Administrative letter of 27 October 2005, in their capacity as directors of CanWest Global Communications Corp. and in accordance with their authority to elect the majority of the board of directors 

On May 15th, the CRTC announced a one-year licence renewal, effective September 1st 2009, for all of CanWest’s Over-The-Air stations, including CKMI-TV, “….to give these broadcasters some flexibility during the current period of economic uncertainty.” Group-based licence renewals would then be addressed in the spring of 2010. The Commission also stated that it recognized the impracticability of imposing any conditions relative to 1-1 ratios between Canadian and non-Canadian programming in the ensuing year, given the programming commitments that were already in place.

The Commission would however continue to explore various regulatory measures “…to ensure that English-language television broadcasters devote an appropriate proportion of their expenditures to Canadian programming.”

On July 6th, the CRTC announced one-year licence renewals, from September 1st 2009 to August 31st 2010, for all the private conventional television programming undertakings operated by Canwest Television Limited Partnership, including CKMI-TV Quebec, subject to certain specified conditions in respect of some individual markets. The decision included requirements for a minimum of 14 hours of local programming per broadcast week in certain designated major markets, and seven hours of local programming per week in certain markets specified as ‘non-metropolitan’.

The Commission also approved an application for CKMI-TV to be designated as the originating station for Global’s regional service in the area.  This would allow local advertising to be carried on the station.  

Also on July 6th, the CRTC invited written comments and proposals, to be considered at a hearing on September 29th 2009, on “…the modalities and conditions for group-based licensing that would provide the necessary criteria to consider upcoming applications for group-based seven-year licence renewals: revenue support for conventional broadcasters; and possible transition models”.

The outcome of this hearing was anticipated to be the establishment of guidelines for the Commission to consider when holding a hearing on seven-year renewals of conventional station licences in the spring of 2010. 

On October 20, the CRTC approved the application by Canwest Television GP Inc. (the general partner) and Canwest Media Inc. (the limited partner), carrying on business as Canwest Television Limited Partnership, to amend the licence for CKMI-TV-1 Montréal to add a post-transition digital transmitter (CKMI-DT-1) in order to serve the population of Montréal. The new transmitter would operate on channel 15 with an average effective radiated power of 8,000 watts (maximum ERP of 8,000 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 298 metres). The Commission noted that CKMI-DT-1 would operate on a channel that was different than the one allotted in the Department of Industry’s DTV Post-Transition Allotment Plan.

On October 22, the CRTC approved an application by Shaw Communications Inc., on behalf of Canwest Global Communications Corp., for authority to change the effective control of Canwest Global’s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries, which will henceforth be exerciced by Shaw. This change would be effected through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shaw known as 7316712 Canada Inc. Upon the closing of the proposed transaction, Shaw, through its wholly-owned subsidiary 7316712 Canada, would become the sole owner of Restructured Canwest and of CWI, and would acquire control of all broadcasting undertakings currently controlled by Canwest Global. Shaw ascribed a total value of $2.005 billion for the acquisition of all broadcasting assets controlled by Canwest Global and initially proposed a tangible benefits package in the amount of $23 million. 

Events leading up to the October 22, 2010 decision: On October 6, 2009, Canwest Global, along with its operating subsidiary Canwest Media Inc. and certain other subsidiaries, filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, R.S.C. 1985 c. C-36, as amended. At the beginning of November, Canwest Global, with the assistance of RBC Capital Markets, initiated an equity solicitation process to identify potential new Canadian investors. On February 19, 2010, after arm’s length negotiations between Shaw, Canwest Global and the Ad Hoc Committee (comprised of holders of over 70% of the 8% senior subordinated notes issued by Canwest Investments Co., due 2012), Canwest Global’s board approved Shaw’s offer. On March 31, Shaw filed an application with the CRTC for approval of its acquisition of effective control of the conventional and specialty television undertakings indirectly owned by Canwest Global. Under that original offer, Shaw was to subscribe for Class A Voting shares representing a 20% equity and 80% voting interest in Restructured Canwest for a minimum $95 million in the aggregate. On May 3, Shaw scquired from Goldman Sachs & Co. affiliates 29.9% of the voting shares and 49.9% of the common non-voting shares in the capital of CWI. On May 4, Shaw advised the CRTC that, pursuant to an amendment to the March 31 application, Shaw’s indirect equity interest would be 100% of Restructured Canwest. Shaw also advised that, in addition to acquiring the shares of CWI indirectly held by Canwest Global, it would acquire, by way of an option, the remaining shares in the capital of CWI, held by Goldman Sachs entities, immediately following Commission approval of the application. On May 18, Canwest Global filed an application for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization for restructuring purposes, as contemplated in the document entitled “Plan of Compromise, Arrangement and Reorganization”, of the Canwest Global licensed broadcasting subsidiaries pursuant to the CCAA, resulting in the issuance of new broadcasting licences. On July 28, at the end of the CCAA Proceedings, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice rendered an Order approving the Plan. 

On October 27, Shaw Communications announced it had reached the final stage in its purchase of Canwest’s television operations. There would be a gradual shift of branding to Shaw Media, and the company would gradually retire the Canwest name. Shaw would also close the Canwest corporate headquarters in Winnipeg. Shaw announced a new management team for the broadcasting division. It would be headed by Paul Robertson, who previously served as president of Shaw-controlled Corus Entertainment’s television division and oversaw the purchase of the Canwest assets. 

The CRTC approved an amendment to the licence for CKMI-TV Québec to add a digital transmitter (post transitional). CKMI-DT would operate on channel 20 (directional) with an average effective radiated power of 4,000 watts (maximum ERP of 18,000 watts), with effective antenna height above average terrain of 446.3 metres. The existing CBC tower would be used and programming would be received via microwave. The Commission also approved an amendment to the licence for CKMI-TV-2 Sherbrooke to add a digital transmitter (post transitional). CKMI-DT-2 would operate on channel 11 with an average effective radiated power of 500 watts (1,000 watts maximum ERP) with a directional antenna. Effective antenna height above average terrain would be 611.7 metres and the existing Tele-Quebec tower would be used. Programming would be received by fibre-optic. 

BNN executive producer Mike Omelus moved to Global News as Eastern regional director. He would oversee all editorial and production teams at Global Maritimes, Global Montreal, and Global Winnipeg’s newsrooms.

Senior Global News team changes: Boston Kenton, the Senior Director, National News and Global Vancouver Station Manager, was promoted to VP, BC and National News; Mike Omelus, the Eastern Regional Director responsible for Global Maritimes, Global Montreal and Global Winnipeg, was promoted to Senior Director, Southern Alberta; Tim Spelliscy, the Regional Director, News, AB and Station Manager at Global Edmonton, was promoted to Senior Director, Edmonton and Prairie Region; and Ward Smith was promoted from News Director/Station Manager at Global Toronto to Senior Director, Eastern Region. Boston continued responsibility for all national and foreign news operations, including the Ottawa Bureau and The West Block, as well as all BC news operations, including CHBC/Global Okanagan; Omelus moved to Calgary and was responsible for all Global News operations in Calgary and Lethbridge, and would work with Shaw on community engagement strategies and develop models for delivering Global News to new markets; Spelliscy continued to oversee operations at the Edmonton production centre, and had new responsibilities for Global Saskatoon, Global Regina and Global Winnipeg; and Smith remained in charge of Global Toronto as well as Global Montreal and Global Maritimes, as well as the Network Resource Centre based in Toronto. Moving to Vancouver and reporting to Boston was Jeff Bollenbach, the Station Manager/News Director at Global Calgary. He would work preparing the new BC regional 24/7 news channel (BC-1) for its anticipated launch on March 1. 

Global Montreal hired the first people for its new morning show. Robert Ostiguy, a former CBC Promotions Producer in the ‘90s and freelance since then, would be Senior Producer. Jim Connell, formerly of 940 News, CJAD and CKO (all in Montreal) became the Studio Director.

CTV Montreal reporter Camille Ross was hired by Global to join its new Montreal morning show set to launch in the spring. 

Global Montreal launched a morning news show on January 28. Called Morning News, the program aired weekdays from 6-9 a.m.

On March 23, the CRTC approved an application by Shaw Communications Inc. on behalf of Shaw Media Inc. and its licensed subsidiaries, for authority to effect a multi-step corporate reorganization by transferring all of Shaw Communications’ shares in Shaw Media to Corus Entertainment Inc. or one of its subsidiaries. Since the creation of Corus in 1999, the Commission had regarded the two companies to be effectively controlled by J.R. Shaw and this reorganization wouldn’t change that. The deal was expected to close on April 1.

In early April, Corus Entertainment completed its $2.65 billion acquisition of Shaw Media. Corus now had 45 specialty TV services, 15 conventional TV channels, 39 radio stations, a global content business, and a portfolio of digital assets.

Global Montreal lead engineer Alain Marcil retired in the fall. He started his career 44 years earlier at TVA, then worked outside the business and joined Global in 2006.

In April, Global Montreal split its local evening newscast into two half-hour blocks with Global National in between. For the past three years, Global News had offered viewers a 90-minute package of local, national and international news from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The evening news lineup now featured Global News at 5:30 with Jamie Orchard, followed by Global National with Dawna Friesen at 6:00. Orchard then returned at 6:30 with another half-hour of news.